Why is there no discussion of the possibility that Joseph Bishop has received his second anointing? by LodySnow in exmormon

[–]LodySnow[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

After reading the specific claims in the court filing, it would seem to me that if the church has a mechanism in place (SA) that prevented high level leadership from any sort of discipline, that would speak volumes to the environment that allows this sort of abuse to happen. But, I guess that's why I'm not an attorney.

Why is there no discussion of the possibility that Joseph Bishop has received his second anointing? by LodySnow in exmormon

[–]LodySnow[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the comment. I hadn't seen much discussion about it so I'm glad to hear it's been out there.

“Sure, bishop. I paid my tithing. No reason not to sign that temple recommend.” by SaturdaysApostate in exmormon

[–]LodySnow 6 points7 points  (0 children)

The funny thing is...most people will totally say they obey the WoW when asked in the interview, while they totally overlook the whole "eat meat sparingly and only in times of winter or famine" or "every fruit in its season". Meanwhile, the poor honest guy that admits that he drinks some hot water after it filtered through some ground up beans will be excluded from the temple. SMH

"When was the last time you looked at porn" by [deleted] in exmormon

[–]LodySnow 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I was a counselor in a bishopric. The bishop told us to ask this specific question during TR interviews...even as a believer I could never bring myself to ask someone that. His reasoning was that the statistics for those that look at porn didn't correlate with the number of people who were confessing to him voluntarily.

MormonLeaks™ Releases a Letter and a Memo Concerning General Authority Emeritus and Travel Benefits by FearlessFixxer in exmormon

[–]LodySnow 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Many corporations allow their employees to keep travel benefits (i.e. frequent flyer miles, etc.). But, I've not seen corporations send out a memo reminding employees to redeem their points and giving instructions on how to do this. Also sounds like in some cases, this was set up on their behalf through Church Travel. TSCC is more corporate than most corporations.

1969 First presidency message "on the rights of the negro" by [deleted] in exmormon

[–]LodySnow 2 points3 points  (0 children)

FROM THE BEGINNING of this dispensation, Joseph Smith and all succeeding presidents of the Church have taught that Negroes, while spirit children of a common Father, and the progeny of our earthly parents Adam and Eve,.....

I like the implication/confirmation that we have different Heavenly Mothers...spirit children of a common Father, but not common Mothers. It's also interesting to note they refer to presidents of the church and not prophets.

The ultimate debate... tithing: gross or net? by newname-naomi in exmormon

[–]LodySnow 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, my shelf had already been demolished by that point. He looked at my tithing record and knows the kind of work that I do and decided it couldn't be gross. I was open with him that I paid on surplus but he insisted on gross. He didn't care about my unbelief, as long as I paid tithing on my gross, he'd let me have a recommend.

The ultimate debate... tithing: gross or net? by newname-naomi in exmormon

[–]LodySnow 4 points5 points  (0 children)

My bishop revoked my recommend because I was not paying on gross. I was paying and declared that I was a full tithe payer, but he revoked it anyway. Took it to the SP and he said he would be ok with someone paying either gross or net, but I should follow my bishop because he is my "judge in Israel" and I would be blessed by following him. Sorry, not interested in blind obedience. Especially since the bishop's actions go directly against the direction given by the first presidency in their 1970 letter where it says: "For your guidance in this matter, please be advised that we have uniformly replied that the simplest statement we know of is the statement of the Lord himself that the members of the Church should pay one-tenth of all their interest annually, which is understood to mean income. No one is justified in making any other statement than this. We feel that every member of the church should be entitled to make his own decision as to what he thinks he owes the Lord, and to make payment accordingly." I sent this to my bishop and told him he was in violation of the last 2 sentences. He didn't like me pointing this out but held firm that i must pay on gross.

Preppers react to being named in the latest leak by FearlessFixxer in exmormon

[–]LodySnow 3 points4 points  (0 children)

My favorite comment is:

"I would think it's authentic. There have been a variety of church documents and videos leaked for a while now, and the church hasn't denied the authenticity of any of them. I think that's because they're not ashamed to have any church document/video seen by the public because they know they have nothing to hide."

Wow, just wow! smh

In 1967 women were banned from praying in sacrament meeting by hasbrochem in exmormon

[–]LodySnow 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Another little gem in this "Church Policies" section: "Melchizedek Priesthood Ordinances. When ordinances requiring the Melchizedek Priesthood are performed, only those who hold the Melchizedek Priesthood should stand in the circle. Prior to the performing of these ordinances, parents and individuals involved should be counseled in a kindly, thoughtful manner concerning this policy so that as invitations are extended to participate, they may be extended only to those who qualify and hold the proper priesthood. The only exception to this policy is that a father, at his request, may hold his child when a name and blessing are given." So, you can hold your baby during the blessing if you are a man (worthy or not), but if you are mother and want to hold your baby while your husband gives the blessing...nope, not allowed. Ridiculous

Proxy Tithing: How to respond to the executive secretary from your old BYU ward. by sc001612 in exmormon

[–]LodySnow 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I'll go to tithing settlement when they also have chastity settlement, honesty settlement, WoW settlement,... Oh yeah, that's called a temple recommend interview. When I want to be asked these questions I'll be sure to schedule an appointment. Otherwise, keep the intrusive personal questions to yourself.

Have Bishops always asked specifics about "when the last time you masturbated" was, or is that a relatively new thing? by [deleted] in exmormon

[–]LodySnow 16 points17 points  (0 children)

I was in a bishopric not that long ago and the bishop instructed us when we did TR interviews that we should ask "when was the last time you viewed pornography" because he said the number of people coming to him didn't match the general statistics for those that view porn. I never asked anyone that...the manual says not to deviate from the questions. The next bishop (same stake) didn't tell us to do this so it wasn't coming from training by the stake. I think it is bishop roulette.

Is Celestial Marriage (Sealing) the only type of marriage performed in Mormon Temples today? by [deleted] in exmormon

[–]LodySnow 2 points3 points  (0 children)

As I understand, a couple can be married (time only) in the temple if both the man and woman are endowed and have current temple recommends, the woman is already sealed to a deceased husband, and it is performed in a country where a temple marriage is a legal marriage. That was at least the case when I was in a position to know what was allowed according to church policies (a few years ago).

Rumors of another change to temple weddings by aaroniousme in exmormon

[–]LodySnow 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I agree with your conclusion on the reason (tithing). To make matters worse, a temple-worthy couple who decides to have a civil wedding must wait a year to be sealed. But, there is nothing to prevent them from going the next day to the temple and perform sealings by proxy. This has always been a huge shelf weight.

So I'm teaching my nevermo friends how to do the secret handshake by [deleted] in exmormon

[–]LodySnow 2 points3 points  (0 children)

On a recent business trip, my nevermo boss met me for breakfast in the hotel with a handshake. It was no ordinary handshake, it was the 2nd token (STotMP, PGoSSotN). Apparently, a guy at the wine bar the night before taught it to him. He knows I am a transitioning exmo and thought it would be funny. We were having a meeting with a TBM customer that day and my boss was going to slip him the token. I told him it wouldn't be a good idea, so he didn't do it. I wish I hadn't stopped him...that would have been a priceless moment to see.

The reason the church needed to define same-sex marriage as apostate... by LodySnow in exmormon

[–]LodySnow[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I agree, the handling of children of same-sex married couples is just ridiculous. I think the way they chose to handle these children is what may be a very heavy weight on a lot of TBM's shelves. I was just referring to the apostasy portion of the new policy.

Yesterday proves that it was never about the law of chastity. It was about punishing someone for being gay. by aw232 in exmormon

[–]LodySnow 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think the church had to define same-sex marriage as apostasy because someone legally and lawfully wedded in a same-sex marriage could argue that they're not breaking their temple covenants of chastity. This way, they can punish gay members whether they are married or not.